The granddaughter of a West Liberty couple hopes to pursue her dreams in Spain this summer, and is asking her supporters and fans from her home county to help her make this trip.
Earlier this year, Olivia Harmon, a senior on the Grand View University softball team in Des Moines, was offered a spot with the program, Beyond Sports. Through this program, Harmon would travel to Spain in June to compete against other members of top level softball club teams.
This is just the latest part of Harmon’s softball journey, as she has been playing softball since she was eight years old, playing in the city league through the Muscatine Girls Softball Association. Her parents, Scott and Lynn Harmon, and her older sister also influenced her love of the sport. Her grandparents, Darleen and Howard Harmon of West Liberty, also supported her.
“I grew up watching all my sister’s high school games, and I always wanted to be like her so of course this meant I would play softball too. I started out on the team, Yellow Chicks, and ended my high school career playing for the Muscatine High School varsity softball team where I was an outfielder,” Harmon said.
Over the years, softball has become much more than just a game to Harmon, she says. “It’s taught me countless lessons about friendship, resilience, and hard work. The amount of relationships I have developed through this sport are too many to count. I can credit some of my best friends to this game.”
When Beyond Sports reached out to her, Harmon said she was beyond excited. “Sports can create positive change, and inspire and heal in many ways. Going on this trip would present me with a chance to experience a uniquely different culture, and also is a chance for me to bring my culture and story to other girls whom we all share the love of softball with.”
Because this would be her first time traveling outside the US, Harmon said she sees the trip as a chance to learn, grow, and build new friendships with girls from all over the country, as well as develop her team building and leadership skills.
Before she can start packing her bags, Harmon has to raise $4,000 to pay for the trip, with this money being due May 1. She has raised half the amount so far, making her first payment towards the trip on March 15.
“I’m hopeful to reach my full amount with the support of my community and my family’s support,” she said. “My Grand View community has been very supportive of my journey thus far, and are proud of the opportunities I have been chosen for.
Harmon and her family are accepting cash donations, checks, and Venmo donations at Olivia-Harmon-13. Donations can be sent through the mail at 1608 Foster St. in Muscatine.